Black Cake

Reviews

A sparkling debut, which examines migration, estrangement and the stories we tell about ourselves Prepare to be hooked Impressive Black Cake explores the ways we use meals not just to nourish ourselves but to help tell unspeakable stories. Family, food, festering resentment - you'll find plenty to chew on . . . Wilkerson approaches her plot like a mad chef, grabbing ingredients from all over the world, slicing and dicing with abandon, tossing characters and palm fronds and a few drops of rum into a pot and letting it all come to a simmer . . . A roiling soup of family secrets, big lies, great loves, bright colours and strong smells Black Cake is a beautiful, deeply resonant story of children trying to understand the mother they have lost. Charmaine Wilkerson transports you across the decades and the globe accompanied by complex, wonderfully drawn characters. She has managed to tell a story that is as meaningful as it is delicious. At turns delightfully juicy and then stunningly wise, Black Cake is a winner I was instantly taken in by this multi-generational tale of identity, family, and the lifelong push and pull of home. This novel has a tremendous heart at its centre, and I felt its beat on every page. What an extraordinary debut A special, beautifully written novel that's as rich and intoxicating as the Jamaican rum cake of its title Unputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will leave your head spinning and your heart aching So beautifully written I'm struggling to believe it's a debut. The cake is the glue that holds all the layers together and the scenes are so well drawn I could almost taste the cake, feel the warm sea on my skin. My heart broke and was put back together. Bravo I loved the brilliant writing, the characters and the clever and beautiful way the story melded together. A stunning book An extremely assured debut which pulls in threads and echoes from across the Caribbean diaspora to deliver a rich, complex and really satisfying novel Wilkerson explores the nuances of racial identity and betrayal in a powerful novel BLACK CAKE has all the ingredients of the tastiest stories: secrets, romance, danger, and a cast of characters so real you want to scream at them one moment and hug them the next. I felt nearly breathless while reading Eleanor's truth - as if I were right there in the room with Byron and Benny, wholly immersed in their mother's tragedies and triumphs A stunning page-turner, with characters that felt real and relatable. I can't recommend this book highly enough. An incredible debut A delicious novel. The chapters come fast and furious . . . A satisfying literary meal, heralding the arrival of a new novelist to watch Black Cake took a hold of me from the first page and didn't let go ... A gripping, poignant debut from an important new voice Included in 'The books we're looking forward to in 2022' This powerful debut about family and identity, set against a backdrop of Caribbean culture, history and traditions, already has the stamp of approval from Oprah A powerful, beautiful debut A multi-generational debut generating hype You can't help but fall in love with this book Utterly engrossing and full of twists, Black Cake is absolutely worth the calories A shining family saga . . . Readers will adore this highly accomplished effort from a talented new writer Black Cake is such an engaging novel. The structure works brilliantly with its dual narrative and short, sharp chapters. As I read, I felt like I could taste the sweet and spice of the black cake that links generations of the same family. Wilkerson's Black Cake is filled with secrets, family ties and hidden desires. It is an extremely satisfying read that stays with you long after the final page. As moreish as its title. If you want to be transported, read this book A family drama meets murdery mystery The perfect recipe for an epic family drama . . . Feuds, grief, and a murder make Charmaine Wilkerson's Black Cake unputdownable One of the most feverishly anticipated debuts of the year I really savoured this rich, layered family saga ... Charmaine's writing is subtle and lyrical, pulling you into a powerful story of secrets, roots and identity. The flavour of it will linger long after you've finished An extraordinary debut Completely blew me away ... I loved the brilliant writing, the characters and the clever and beautiful way the story melded together ... this is a stunning book Delving into ideas around identity, familial bonds and lifelong secrets, Black Cake looks to be a wildly moreish page-turner Touching on racism and acceptance, betrayal and loyalty, this emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the family that define it A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than the last. Wilkerson weaves social history into the backbone of the story, in a way that's nothing short of masterful A skilful debut about family secrets - and food A wonderful immersive experience A beautiful read - a real pageturner A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than the last. Wilkerson weaves social history into the backbone of the story, in a way that's nothing short of masterful. A resonant story of identity, family and the meaning of home A delight to read, each page of Black Cake is more interesting than the last. Wilkerson masterfully weaves social history into the backbone of the story An incredible family saga spanning 60 years, jumping across continents and time, forming a multi-layered book about secrets and inheritance Engrossing . . . Wilkerson's brilliant descriptions are positively sumptuous for the mind's eye I [. . .] was immediately drawn in A heartfelt story of loss, lies and reconciliation A rich story around immigration and identity ... the novel beautifully captures the struggles of family and identity and the liberation that comes from those struggles A sweeping story, with Wilkerson masterfully bringing together all the different threads, making social history the backbone of everything A testimony to how migration, memories and the life decisions of our elders can trickle down the generations and shape us. The careful cultural references to the Caribbean diaspora are deliciously nostalgic - I couldn't get enough! A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades and continents, turning everything the siblings think they know about themselves and their family on its head' A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades and continents This emotional, heartfelt debut explores the meaning of home and the family that define it An intricately woven tale that deliciously captures the experience migration, family, love and loss with such empathy and pathos - a book that is both universal and unique. Expand reviews